Speeches by Reader.

“Lorraine, do you think that this can be achieved at the scale we need to deal with the climate scepticism and the climate communications emergency or crisis that we now have in the UK? It feels like you can do it at a small level, but trying to change the view of the electorate would be nigh on impossible.”

“We will talk a bit about climate action groups. Perhaps I will start with you, Angharad. Do you think that climate action groups are helping to build support for the energy transition or are they contributing to the increasing backlash towards net zero targets?”

“For those who are perhaps very famous now for taking direct action, sticking yourself to roads, throwing chalk over Stonehenge, do you think those people really galvanise support on climate change or do they just piss people off?”

“Rather than asking you to comment on the organisations, do you think that throwing chalk over Stonehenge or people gluing themselves the roads helps or hinders?”

“When you are planning more direct action as Greenpeace—let’s take away from those more elitist, private-educated groups—how do you measure that you have actually moved the needle on public perception when you do your more direct activity?”

“My constituents, and I am sure everyone’s constituents, go online, they put in their name and the postcode, their email, press the button and it sends me a template response. I then go to parliamentary research service. Chris perhaps goes to the Conservative research service and there may be be a research service the L…”

“Have you ever measured the carbon impact of all those emails that get sent every week, the template ones?”

“Do you think these direct action groups will change their position? Do you think we would get Just Stop Oil or Insulate Britain to come to a conversation with climate sceptics, hear their views and change and come to a common understanding, or are they very much set in their ways—it is their way or no way? They know ri…”

“Lorraine, my final question, how do you think that the Government could constructively engage with these types of groups to help deliver their energy transition policies?”

“Angharad, can you give me an example of where Greenpeace has come with a policy position—you have listened to sceptics, and your position might have changed to accommodate bringing people on board.”

“Did that dialogue move Greenpeace’s corporate position on energy transfer in the north in Scotland?”

“Your position does not change even when you engage with others. You are not trying to find consensus.”

“This is probably a question for Lorraine, because it is very easy when there is a local scheme for people to find a snappy reason to object rather than a snappy reason to support. Why do you think that is?”

“Thank you, Chair. I will ask questions around civic forums and citizens’ assemblies, and probably start with a very open question. Stephanie, I will come to you because I know Involve was responsible for facilitating the Climate Assembly UK. Do you think citizens’ assemblies have a role to play in informing and changin…”

“Lorraine, do you think that this can be achieved at the scale we need to deal with the climate scepticism and the climate communications emergency or crisis that we now have in the UK? It feels like you can do it at a small level, but trying to change the view of the electorate would be nigh on impossible.”

“We will talk a bit about climate action groups. Perhaps I will start with you, Angharad. Do you think that climate action groups are helping to build support for the energy transition or are they contributing to the increasing backlash towards net zero targets?”

“For those who are perhaps very famous now for taking direct action, sticking yourself to roads, throwing chalk over Stonehenge, do you think those people really galvanise support on climate change or do they just piss people off?”

“Rather than asking you to comment on the organisations, do you think that throwing chalk over Stonehenge or people gluing themselves the roads helps or hinders?”

“When you are planning more direct action as Greenpeace—let’s take away from those more elitist, private-educated groups—how do you measure that you have actually moved the needle on public perception when you do your more direct activity?”

“My constituents, and I am sure everyone’s constituents, go online, they put in their name and the postcode, their email, press the button and it sends me a template response. I then go to parliamentary research service. Chris perhaps goes to the Conservative research service and there may be be a research service the L…”